Contacts

Two solid waste collection companies provide collection service for all residential customers within the Unincorporated Area (UA) of Ventura County. By contract, each of these companies has the exclusive right to serve specific portions of the UA. Therefore, if a resident subscribes to collection service, he/she must use the company with the exclusive contract to serve the area in which the resident lives.

Standard residential service throughout the UA typically includes weekly service for three containers: one each for refuse, recyclables, and green waste. Some limited variations on this standard level of service are available through your collection company. Rates for service are set by the County and vary depending on factors such as location and waste generation rates in a given service area.

The Public Works Agency, Water and Sanitation Department, Integrated Waste Management Division (IWMD) has developed the Senior/Low-Income Discount Program which allows an eligible resident a $4.00 discount off their monthly refuse bill. To be eligible for the discount, you must meet BOTH of the following criteria:

Be at least sixty-two (62) years of age (and able to provide government-issued identification verification) AND;

Enrolled in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Lifeline Program (proof of enrollment with Decision Letter)

FCC Lifeline is a government benefit program that provides monthly discounts on telephone service (wireline or wireless) for eligible low-income consumers. To participate in the program, consumers must meet certain low-income guidelines OR participate in a number of government-assistance programs.

If you are not currently enrolled in the FCC Lifeline Program or to learn more, please click here for details on determining your eligibility and how to enroll or call 1-866-272-0349.

The IWMD has developed English and Spanish (Español) application forms for residential customers seeking a discount:

After IWMD receives the completed application along with the above-stated criteria (proof of age and FCC Lifeline enrollment), the Division will contact you either to request more information or notify you that your application has been approved; once approved, your County-authorized refuse collection company will apply the discount to your next billing cycle.

Please note: Annual renewal in the FCC Lifeline Program to the IWMD is required before FCC Lifeline’s Decision Letter’s stated expiration date or the discount will automatically be removed from your bill. If reinstated after discount has been removed, the discount will be applied to your next billing cycle, without any credit for past, non-discounted payments.

VENTURA COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 4156 – The Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance 4156 on December 9, 1997. Effective July 1, 2004, the current CIWMP Fee is $0.05 per ton.

This ordinance code provides for the assessment and collection of the County Integrated Waste Management Plan Fee (CIWMP Fee). The CIWMP fee was established to defray the costs associated with the preparation, adoption and implementation of regional integrated waste management plans for both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Ventura County.

The fee is paid by city and County solid waste collectors on all Ventura County solid waste disposed at landfills inside and outside the county. It is also paid by in-county solid waste facilities on waste brought in by self-hauls and disposed waste originating outside the county.

Residential/Commercial Hybrid Agreement:

State law requires the County to divert landfill-bound solid waste material through waste reduction, recycling and re-use. To meet this mandate, Ventura County Ordinance 4445 provides for the implementation of programs for attainment of waste diversion goals. The Ordinance allows for an exemption for residential green materials (e.g., grass clippings, leaves, tree trimmings, etc.).

Pursuant to the Ordinance, the Integrated Waste Management Division (IWMD) has developed the Green Material Recycling Program Exemption which allows residential customers to discontinue their green materials (yard waste) container and potentially save on their monthly bill.

To be eligible for an exemption you must meet one of the following criteria:

1) You do not generate yard waste or green material on your property;2) You compost and/or mulch all yard waste and green material on your property; or3) You utilize a professional landscaping service that removes your yard waste and green material from property and recycles it.

The IWMD has developed English and Spanish (Español) application forms for residential customers seeking an exemption:

Once the IWMD receives the completed exemption application, we will conduct a random, onsite inspection to verify the exemption reason prior to approval or denial of the application. The Division will make every effort to complete the inspection and notify the resident and their County authorized solid waste collection company of our determination within ten (10) working days.

As an exempt customer, your solid waste container may be randomly inspected without prior notification as part of the Division’s annual compliance inspection process.

Furthermore, you may not place green material in either the refuse or recycling containers. If a follow-up inspection reveals green materials are being placed in these containers, or your landscaper is not diverting green materials to a recycling facility, the IWMD will send you a warning notice outlining the program requirements and informing you the exemption may be revoked; if revoked, a charge for the green materials container may be applied to your bill. The IWMD will conduct another inspection no later than six (6) months after issuing the warning notice.

Residents must use their solid waste collector to schedule removal of bulky items. Typically, bulky items include appliances, furniture, televisions and computers, and other large items. Each single-family household in the unincorporated area that pays their solid waste collector for regular monthly collection service may have up to two bulky items picked up free of charge at the curbside once each calendar year. Multi-family households may also receive bulky item service and should contact the solid waste collector for the County-approved rate. If you are discarding tires or items which require special handling, your solid waste collector may impose a disposal fee (apart from any charge for curbside collection). All households should contact their waste collection company to schedule a pick up.

If you have more than two items that you want to discard, please contact your solid waste collector for more information about bulky item charges.

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The Ventura County Public Works Agency aims to deliver efficient, responsive and cost effective regional services essential to the health, safety, natural resources protection, and economic vitality of Ventura County and its residents.